Santa Rosa to advertise sale of industrial park land

Published: Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 05:14 PM.

MILTON — Santa Rosa County commissioners decided to move forward Thursday with plans to lure a distribution company to bring hundreds of jobs to the county.

Commissioners voted unanimously to advertise the sale of a 35-acre parcel in the Santa Rosa Industrial Park. A company has expressed interest in buying the land and building a large distribution center there.

“Anytime we sell any land, it has to be advertised for 30 days,” said Joy Tsubooka, the county’s public information officer. “(Thursday’s vote) approved the advertising of the property.”

Commissioners discussed the issue briefly at a meeting Monday and agreed to move ahead with no further discussion Thursday. The meeting lasted only 18 minutes.

The county is expected to begin advertising for the sale March 11, Tsubooka said.

The final price has not been determined. It could range from nothing to $50,000 per acre, depending on the capital expenditure the company guarantees, the number of jobs created and the average wage, Tsubooka said.

The name of the company has not been released. It is being referred to as Project Gold Rush by the county’s Economic Development Department.

The company anticipates having more than 250 employees and paying an average wage more than the county’s average of $14.65 an hour.

Contact Daily News Business Editor Dusty Ricketts at 850-315-4448 or dricketts@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @DustyRnwfdn.

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MILTON — Santa Rosa County commissioners decided to move forward Thursday with plans to lure a distribution company to bring hundreds of jobs to the county.

Commissioners voted unanimously to advertise the sale of a 35-acre parcel in the Santa Rosa Industrial Park. A company has expressed interest in buying the land and building a large distribution center there.

“Anytime we sell any land, it has to be advertised for 30 days,” said Joy Tsubooka, the county’s public information officer. “(Thursday’s vote) approved the advertising of the property.”

Commissioners discussed the issue briefly at a meeting Monday and agreed to move ahead with no further discussion Thursday. The meeting lasted only 18 minutes.

The county is expected to begin advertising for the sale March 11, Tsubooka said.

The final price has not been determined. It could range from nothing to $50,000 per acre, depending on the capital expenditure the company guarantees, the number of jobs created and the average wage, Tsubooka said.

The name of the company has not been released. It is being referred to as Project Gold Rush by the county’s Economic Development Department.

The company anticipates having more than 250 employees and paying an average wage more than the county’s average of $14.65 an hour.

Contact Daily News Business Editor Dusty Ricketts at 850-315-4448 or dricketts@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @DustyRnwfdn.